Two Worlds, Two Souls
Chapter 71: Stick Together
Angel's Point of View:
The underground was in utter chaos.
Milly and Robert's deaths had been sudden and unexpected. It threw a wrench into the entire underground and how it operated. King Asgore had his royal guards, watchmen, the guardians, everyone who could lend a hand was helping to find the culprit or keep others protected. That was the main goal as others had been slaughtered no differently than Maria's family.
Five others had died since Milly and Robert.
Two of the victims had been teachers at the schools in Waterfall. One of them was a teacher that taught Milly, and even MK and Will when they were younger. He was a beloved teacher among the students and would be missed. Another was actually another teacher, in fact, one that taught in Milly's classes at the grade school just up the road. The two teachers had been close friends and were found together when... discovered.
Of the other victims, there were two high school students as well, one that was a senior, another that was a sophomore. Both males which showed a pattern among the victims, except that Milly was the only girl.
Those of us in the guard and the jury were looking over all angels we could to find a pattern and discover who the killer was. We worked tirelessly. We met up in the late of night when work was over and the young ones were to bed. That's where we were then. With Asgore in his library we were pulling together all information we had.
The patterns we had didn't make any sense. There wasn't a pattern between there only being child or adult victims. We had almost an even split of them down the middle. Many of the victims traveled often to Waterfall and actually went to the schools there, including Milly. But Robert was the odd one out in the batch.
If we switched it around to there being a motive that resolved around all the victims being male, we almost had a possible cause. Whisk was certain there must have been a lead there. Even if Milly was the only female victim, she was sure that it was due to a terrible accident of her being in the wrong place and the wrong time.
"Ugg! This is so frustrating!" Undyne hissed out as she sifted through the papers. "How the hell does this asshole get away with so much?"
The part that Undyne was so frustrated over was that this murderer we've been facing has been killing people during the day. The bodies were always found then with blood still fresh in the area. Never during the night. This person was very brave. Very brave to kill in the midst of the day. No one was allowed to walk out alone then. It had become country wide law. Even those of us who were in the guard or the jury had been asked by the king to partner up, if not for our own benefit, but to help others who perhaps needed it.
The guard were spread very thin. I even had to hire a guard to protect Wher while he was making his deliveries and meeting with clients. I didn't want to leave the pour guy out to dry when he was out doing those deliveries. Thankfully I used some of the money I stored up from working for the king...
"Now, now Undyne." The king tried to calm her down. "We will find this horrible person. All of us must keep working and finding clues. Our goal is to stop them before another victim appears."
Undyne snarled a bit before she calmed down before the king. "Yeah... I know..."
"We will continue to work until we have more information. Judge," The king directed his attention at Sans. "Send your members out into the field to search all areas and have them focus in Waterfall, that seems to be where the killer is making their hunting ground."
Sans bowed his head under the white cloak he wore. "Yes sir."
"And Red, do follow me instead," I was surprised when the king spoke of me specifically. "I have another side project of this case I wish for you to work on. Please follow me."
"Of course, my king."
I was led from the library and away from the others. I was surprised when the king pulled me into another room that was a few corridors down, a private study perhaps for him. It was decorated with pictures of him as a far along with his kids and wife-
Holy crap. I couldn't but freeze at the picture. Tori was his wife?!
I was absolutely stunned as I saw the same old female goat who looked after my sister and I on the occasion was actually there in the picture. Decked out in rich colors, jewels and gold, along with a crown upon her head. I also saw that they had a son who looked just like Tori while a human girl stood beside them as well. The passed prince Asriel and princess Chara.
From my knowledge of the history of the underground, the children had been playing in the field of yellow flowers and one of the children ate a strange one that was mixed in with the king's normal yellow flowers he made tea from. The weed she had gotten her hands on was poisonous and had killed her.
Asriel had gotten his hands on her soul and had explored to the human world above, trying to give back her body for a proper burial. Humans had lashed out at seeing the form he took on with a human soul absorbed and was attacked. Asriel just made it back with both Chara's body and himself before dying at the entrance of the barrier to die before his mother and father.
That must have been part of the reason why Tori left... her two kids were lost here. That was a terrible burden to bear... But how could she leave all the people that looked up to her behind?
Trying not to appear too distracted by the pictures, I hurried after Asgore to where he sat at a large desk, three times bigger than the one Sans and I worked at in the hidden office at home. He pulled through the papers carefully before he set a few small documents before me.
"Of course, you haven't forgotten of the inmates you've been caring for, have you Ravie?" I blinked at the male before looking over the pictures. I quickly saw the faces of the three men that I helped Sans escape from and arrest over eight months ago. Slick, Sly and Harry.
"Yes sir. I apologize that I haven't seen them this last month. Sans had said to forgo any other assignments and focus on the murderer."
"That is fine, I've had other guards caring for them. But I thought some good news would be in order, but I also require some help."
I tilted my head at him. "I don't understand."
"Would you believe me if I said that Sly and Slick have managed to near finish their return of a third of the money they stole?"
"Really?"
That actually surprised me.
I knew that Slick and Sly had been working diligently ever since their capture by myself. I'd been working for months on their reform between all the other jobs I was doing and trying to expand my way around the underground. To hear that they'd nearly done it, it was exciting, at the same time as mortifying.
To be released from jail at a time like this in the middle of this hell we were in... yeah, not ideal...
"I can see from your shoulders slouching that you already have noticed the problem I've run into." Asgore sighed. "I can't condone holding them longer then needed, but I also know they have no home to travel back to. Their parents have all but disowned them for what they've done. But those two have showed quite the reformation. Even if their third-party member has not..."
"Hm..." I really had to think about that. "Let me chat with them and figure out what they would do after they leave here? Maybe we could see about finding them a small apartment we could help them with, or let them accumulate funds that they could use when looking for a place. Finding them some jobs that they'd be interested in?"
Asgore nodded to me. "Yes, they have most likely heard a few things that are going on, but don't know the entire story. Bring them up to date and find out what they would like."
"Of course, my king." I bowed to him before heading out of the room with papers in hand. It wouldn't take me long to reach the prison. I would talk to them soon enough.
Later that Day:
Only a half hour later had I arrived at the prison. Rushing inside, the guards looked at me in astonishment as I practically drew up whirlwinds as I moved. The guard I normally spoke to and had move the inmates around for me, Sim, quickly moved to my side.
"Sim, orders."
He flew to my heels and followed me while the three inmates looked at their own separate rooms. Even Harry kept quite as he watched me rush through.
"Sly in room two, Slick in room one. Harry can be placed in whatever room is free after I get done with them. I'm on a time constraint. The king needs me back quickly with the special mission that he'd got the jury working on."
"Yes, Jury Member Red."
I didn't even wait to see which room I ran into first. When I landed inside, I sat at the table and waited for whoever to sit before me. I quickly saw it was Slick who nervously took the seat across from me.
"Red? What's going on?"
"Sorry, I'm swamped and have too many things going on." I breathed a bit deeper to try and make it look like I'd run there. "I missed our appointments a few days ago, so I need to do them quickly."
"Okay...?"
"Okay. I'm good now." I breathed in steady before pulling out the papers the king had given me. Questions he'd written up about future plans for the three of the inmates if they ever got out. "So, this session is about the future. What would you do if when you got out? What would you want to do? You must have an idea after all the months you've been here."
Slick paused with those words as he sat in his chair. I saw him fidget there with his collar on his neck before he could enter. The room we were in wasn't protected to keep him from using his magic, so the collar had to be fitted before being put on.
"I want to be a teacher."
I blinked at him. Once, twice. "I wasn't expecting that."
"I know, doesn't sound like the convict, right? Well... this stupid convict doesn't want what happened to me to happen to others. I want to teach kids so they don't follow the crowd like I did, and end up following the wrong one. I want to go back to school. Maybe tutor so I earn some money so I can take some classes?"
"A tutor..." I could work with that and keep an eye on him... "I know someone who has a teen in need of tutoring since they are unable to go to an actual school. I would need to speak to the king, since many things have changed since you came in here."
Slick raised his head in confusion. "Changed?"
"Unfortunately, there is a murderer on the loose in the underground."
The news brought a stiffness to Slick as he sat across from me. His scales appeared paler and I watched his reaction.
"Wha-" His reaction was quite normal as he squirmed in his chair, uneasy. "What?!"
"Yes, you heard me right." I sighed and set down the papers I had on hand to face down in my lap. Slick was used to this; he wasn't allowed to see the notes I write. But I tried to show him comfort. I let my hand slip forward to pat his shoulder since his smaller arms couldn't reach the desk. "With all the good work you've been putting in, we were considering you for early release. It has not been decided yet, but that was the purpose of my visit as well as why I am so busy. But you can also see where we are struggling. How can we allow a reformed monster back into society where a killer is on the loose? So, the king asked me to see what your opinion would be."
"I-I mean… I want to learn… and reform… but a killer? H-how many people h-have died?"
"Seven."
"S-!" The snake male couldn't even finish his sentence. "That's scary… I know what we did was wrong… but murdering monsters? That an entirely other level of wrong. We never did or wanted to do anything like that."
"I would hope not."
"I don't know… this is so sudden…" Slick lowered his head into his hands. "I need time to think…"
"Of course. We'll get you back to your cell."
Without another word, I stood and opened the door that led out into the hallway for Slick to be led back to his room. With one of the three taken care of, I hurried over to the other room where Sly was located. He sat there calmly, but he saw a glimpse of Slick before the door closed behind me to the second room.
His critical eye glanced at me. "What did you say to Slick?"
I groaned as I sat at the table. "The same thing I'm about to tell you. I won't sugar coat it since you'd rather I didn't. You've done well in the last few months, so the first order of business is finding out what you want to do if and when we release you."
Sly only blinked at me with a slightly surprised eye brow raise. Though he said nothing for a few moments as he debated over internally.
"You must be planning to release both me and Slick sometime in the up and coming future, but some sort of bad event in the monster world is making you worried for that." Sly's comment was spot on the money as I sighed. I really could keep nothing from the mouse. "I know Harry's not ready for that. He barely works more than enough so he can eat. But I know that Slick and I work endless hours and overtime to learn, gain skills, and prove that we've changed. But what happened outside? Has another human fallen besides the one the judge adores?"
I struggled to keep the embarrassment out of my voice. "No, a murderer has been discovered in the underground."
That paused Sly's thinking for a moment. "I… see. That does not spell well for both Slick and I then."
"Would you care to explain?"
"You know as well as I do that our families abandoned us when we were arrested earlier in the year." I was surprised to hear an actual chuckle from the mouse, even if it was dark in nature. "Vicky came and screamed at me, as you know, that I will never have a spot in the family business again. And she's right, I don't deserve what I had before. I had it so easy and I still managed to fuck up. I want to start fresh and new. I…"
Sly paused again. I waited patiently for him to divulge in what he wanted to say. I could see many emotions swimming in his eyes. He still was very emotionless when he wanted to be or very poker faced, but as time passed and I saw them more and more, I could see the changes. He's worked harder in this year than he had his entire life.
"Do you think the king and judge would let me assist with this case?"
I couldn't hide the surprise that came from my mouth. "I'm sorry?"
"I want to help out in the case and prove my worth. I want to be a part of the guard and stop idiots like me from doing something so stupid… I lost everything I had because of how selfish I was. All the people that once loved and adored me, or that would put up with my shit, they're all gone. All that's left is honestly Slick. He and I rekindled after being in here for so long while both of us disconnected from Harry. The two of us want to try and make sure other kids that are like us don't do the stupid things we've done. I…"
Another moment of pause came over him. He was remembering something very deep and personal to him as I saw the first ghost of a smile ever appear on his face.
"I was just a young mouse during the last major event that shaped the underground. The toxic dump that took place. There was a royal guard member at the time who was also a nurse. I'd fallen into the poisoned water and she saved me. I became deathly sick afterwards, but that royal guard member assisted me and hundreds of other sick. I saw how hard she worked, she excelled at healing magic. I… wanted to be just like her."
A shaky breath escaped him then and I saw his little hands curl and claw at the table at whatever ugly or miserable memory flashed next.
"Then a string of things happened. She died from the very illness she saved me from. I found out I had this… possession ability that no one had discovered and I couldn't heal. I've tried to learn that magic, but I couldn't be like her… One day I was down on my luck and just… depressed from it all and ran into Harry for the first time. The lumbering oaf was beating up some younger kids. I guess I had a last good thought that had come over me for a while, because I wanted to stop him. I used my magic to take him over, but… his emotions and how he felt, they over powered me. I became drunk on himself and didn't have the control yet to keep his thoughts and desires at bay. I think… it's because of Harry's influence that I changed to the way I became before that human girl… Angel… stopped me, and brought me back to my senses."
"I see… that's both helpful, but also concerning." With my note pad in hand, I wrote as many notes as I could fit with all that Sly had noted to me. "This will be something I will discuss with the judge and the king about seeing if we can do this or not, but I will try my best for you. A power like yours, used right, could really be helpful."
"Oh… and before I forget." Sly noted before I could stand. "Please tell me that you're not about to release Harry?"
Was it me, or was there some worry in his voice for once? He was actually somewhat afraid of the stupid oaf in the other room?
"I normally am not allowed to tell inmates about others… but no, he's not getting out." That brought a sigh to the male. His shoulders relaxed as he sat there.
"I really hope that I can help. I'd like to be useful."
"Good to hear, head back to your room. I'll update you soon."
I hurried from my chair and moved out into the hallway. Just like always, Harry stood defiant and refused to go into any of the rooms, even with the guards trying to drag him into the rooms. They dragged on his arms while he grabbed the bars that separated us. His collar was deeply cutting into his neck. He must be being electrocuted so terribly in those moments. Does he not fell pain?
"It seems you wish to fight me again Harry?"
"Fuck you!"
"Alright then, we can do this here." I stood before the bars of his cell as the guards let him go and the horse male snarled at me. "What do you want to do if you ever get out of here?"
"I'll start by shoving my foot right up your god damn ass!"
I sighed. "I'm not even going to bother. His results are inconclusive like normal. Leave him. I'll take my notes to the king."
"Hold the fuckin' phone there Red! I'm not done with you! Get your god damn ass back here!"
I ignored his words as I approached Sim again. "I'll be updating the king with what I found out today. You'll see me come back or a runner with orders for you soon." Hearing Harry attempt to shout over me, I felt my temper flaring. "And keep that idiot away from the other two good ones."
"Yes ma'am."
Later that Day:
"I'm surprised by what you were able to find out." The king commented from where we were alone in library along with Sans who sat beside me looking at the notes I took. "So, Harry's the cause of all this? Sly was a good kid who didn't know how to control his magic and was influenced by the person he took over?"
We were hidden away in private study of Asgore's once I had returned and all other members had departed to their areas for patrol and research. Asgore was at his desk while Sans and I sat beside him on a loveseat with notes and papers scattered around us in no particular order.
I nodded to the king, returned into my normal robes while Sans lazed beside me and looked over everything, happy to look at something different rather than the depressing news of the murder cases we were going over. "Yes, at least, that's what it sounded like. And Slick was dragged in by the wrong crowd. He wants to make it right by becoming a teacher while Sly wanted to work for the guard."
"Ya sure he ain't tryin' ta fool ya?" Sans questioned; his face looked more serious than normal. Yet I couldn't blame him, this was the person who took over his body and used him as a tool of escape and breaking into multiple banks in the underground.
Yet, the feelings I felt from him felt agonizing as he remembered what he went through.
"You know how my magic works; people can't lie around me." I sighed as I looked at him because I was just as nervous, but I had to give him a chance too. I'd worked with him for months. He had changed and he sounded like he was incredibly sorry for what he'd done. "He sounded sincere, and he's been working his butt off, Slick too."
"Hm..." Sans looked like he didn't believe the information I presented him. I could understand his hesitance, after all we'd been through.
"Still, any help that we can take on would be grateful." Our king presented us with his knowledge. "We are in a current time where any help we can receive is better than none. If Sly has recovered from the past and is willing to help, then we must train him and do such. I am willing to give him a second chance if the two of you are."
"I think we should." Sans flinched at my answer. "We do need the help. I was thinking that I could station Slick in Snowdin in my home, I need a tutor for Sitka. It would be a good way for me to keep an eye on him while I work on my artwork with Wher. And maybe Sly could be partnered with some one of the guards posted in Snowdin. If we keep them to the Snowdin area, I can keep an eye on him from a distance."
"That sounds very doable." The king agreed, even if I could feel in Sans' soul that he didn't agree with it, but he was out weighted two to one. And the king's vote counted over either of ours unless we both agreed against him. "Now we need to find a lodging for them..."
"Isn't there a couple of new homes being built over in Snowdin?" I questioned the two men before me. "I thought there was a new development being built just to the north of town that was a short walk from all the stores. I think they were going to call it the 'snowflake district'."
"Yes, that would be a low-income home where they could start out. It would be further away from most things they are used to so they would have to learn budging to traveling and what not. Especially since it is Snowdin... ah... no offense." The king looked nervously at us as he kinda just rudely talked about our home.
"S'fine Fluffybuns. Don't care." Sans turned to me quickly. "Ya sure yer okay with those guys in our home?"
"Slick yes, and Sly... while I'm nervous, we have to give him a chance." I raised an eye brow, even if Sans couldn't see it. I grabbed his hand to squeeze. "Come on Cousin, have some faith."
He showed me a sour look. One that I knew all too well that he'd only show me and not anyone else. I could only roll my eyes at him from below my hood.
Reaching over to give him a bump with my shoulder, I knocked into some of his papers in hand. Groaning, I reached to clean them up until I saw a picture I wasn't expecting to be in his pile.
A picture of Will.
I held the picture before I felt it pulled from my fingers. Sans' mood changed; guilt filled him as he hid the paper among the others.
"He's a suspect of the murder case?"
"Sorry Rav." Sans rubbed the back of his head. "Did want ya ta freak out."
"I'm not going to freak out. Just question what brought you and the others to that possibility?"
"Just that, it's a possibility. We don't know where Will was durin' all that mess. He says he was out with friends. Snotty teen probably is lyin'. He was dogin' questions left and right when questioned. Don't know if he's got anythin' ta do with it, but he ain't outta the woods yet."
"I see..." I turned to the king. "Have you chosen anyone to watch him and see if he shows any patterns we should be concerned for?"
"Actually yes." Asgore nodded before handing me new documents to read over. "I would like to have yourself and Grillby watch him. After you get Sly and Slick settled with new jobs and a new life. They just asked Sim to pass this along for us as well, name changes to what their names were before they became adults and changed them. Their true old names were Samson Corona and Simon Viper."
I took the documents from him. "Shall I get started on this?"
"Tomorrow Ravie, it has been a long day." The king waved me away. "Go with Sans home and get some rest. I know this had been a long day for us all."
I bowed to him. "Yes, my King."
Witch's Note:
Oh my, my, my! Things are moving so quickly! More deaths! Insanity! Two inmates getting free from prison along with some back history to them! And I love the guesses for who the killer is! I'm so afraid to say anything and give you guys hints that I'm going to keep quiet for now. Mystic Girl and I have been squealing at the comments you guys have been leaving us!
Speaking of comments, reviews!:
Dasansi: I see you're leaning toward Will as the suspect as a killer. A fair guess in all honesty. He does have a fairly easy connecting factor to the victims, but is he being framed? Or is someone trying to hurt the people around him to hurt him? But regardless good guess! And we'll have many more jury scenes during this arc! Hope you enjoy!
Mystic Girl: That is such a good guess! (She turns and pouts at me) Are you sure we can't say anything Halloween?
Me: Nope! Shush! No revealing!
TheSquoxQueen: Awe… oh well, no pressure Queen, but was interested if you had some material because it would have been great to read! As for a huge fight with the murderer… I will say that there will be an encounter in a handful of chapters, but not giving out any other details!
RoseCentury: Oh my god! Love the jokes! And the innuendos! I think both Mystic Girl and I can both say we love both varieties of 'cuddles' that we're talking about. How's the little ones and hubby? What week we at?
Commander: Ah, and your guess is Flowey. A classic but realistic guess. And I will promise right here that if you are right when the killer is revealed that I will comment that "Commander said he told me so". Promise.
And as for the questions… My favorite food… oh god… there are so many… I'm a fan of sweet food or savory food. I don't think I could choose just one kind of food, but I can give you a small list. Garlic, bacon and brussel sprouts, sausage, peperoni and mushroom calzone, hot and sour soup, cheese cake, vanilla bean ice cream, cake with best cream frosting. Yeah… those all sound good!
As for favorite chapter… that's a tough one, mine actually haven't happened yet. My favorites are chapter eighty-three, ninety-one and ninety-two. I won't say why just yet, but keep this in mind when those chapters come along.
Hm… as for why I chose the chains… when I first wanted to write this story, I knew I didn't want to use the entire save/load feature like in the game since I knew while fun, was a nightmare sometimes to work with depending on how you write. And the way I write would have made it a fun mess. But I wanted a magic that would be as powerful, but restrictive if pushed too far. Something that not much of us have seen happen to Angel yet. We've just seen her powerful, we haven't seen her hurt by her own magic yet. And that's when I thought "chains!" And it just fit so well. Other magics that are unique… do you happen to remember MK's magic? Its basically light magic. Useful for common use and fighting. Blinding your opponent to ruin their sight would be helpful. There is another type or two of unique magic, but its not seen until the next story. So, I can't say more yet!
Mystic Girl: I know more about it! I get sneak peaks!
Me: Of course, you do, your helping me write it you numb nut!
Mystic Girl: Oh, right.
Me: Kay Mystic! You're turn!
Mystic Girl: I love pasta, most shell fish, anything with garlic in it. Those I love!
As for the BTM, there is a board that is huge enough to fit the bear on it. We strap him down, and then we go through each torture device. We use fire, sludge hammer, laser, and last but not least, my brand-new strangling device. THE BEAR IS GONE!~
My favorite chapter? Oh god, my favorite is any Frisk focused chapters, but my absolute favorite hasn't been posted yet like Halloween's choices, but mine is chapters eighty and eighty-one. Can't say much yet, but they are amazing!
Thechaosmaster: No worries, Chaos! Happy to help! And don't worry about going back through your work to get inspired! I do it all the time! Besides, kinda have to in order to do some editing if I done somethin' stupid…
But yes, things are crazy at this moment, things are absolutely insane! And they will continue to be that way! Better hold onto something! Granted, this is your territory…
Mystic Girl: Well, my second in command, welcome to the team! We'll have to meet up at some point!
Shadow Phantom: I know, right?! The insane amount of poise to deal with a situation after finding out a close friend is dead, and help their family. I certainly couldn't do it if I were in her situation I think…
Ooo! What an interesting question… (I turn to my best friend.) Have you decided on that yet? Or are your lips sealed?
Mystic Girl: Find out next week!
Paladin Sans: Oh, don't a lot of people wish! That would be lovely, but I can't say anything yet! You guys will see soon enough!
Mystic Girl: Halloween! You have to tie me down! Cover my mouth! DO SOMETHING before I say it!
Me: Okay! Okay! I got it! (Takes the time to tie down friend and make sure she can't say anything!)
Oh boy! Another chapter down and more chaos to go! Oh, I can't wait for next week and see what you guys think of it! Will it solidify your ideals? Or break them? Who knows! Love you all and see you next week!
Halloween Witch
